Friction control for articulating arm joint

Abstract

A friction control mechanism for an articulating arm including an arm, a pivot connector, an axial washer, and at least one set screw. An axial washer is placed around each side of a center aperture in the pivot connector. The pivot connector is connected to the arm with a pivot pin through the center aperture in the pivot connector and aligned holes in the first and second sides of the arm. At least one threaded hole is located adjacent the aligned hole in the first side of the arm. A set screw is placed through each threaded hole, making contact with the axial washer. This contact creates a friction force between the pivot connector and the axial washer, keeping the articulating arm from drifting away from its set position. The pivot connector may be connected to another device such as another arm or a machine such as an x-ray machine, or to another pivot connector.

1. A friction control mechanism for an articulating arm, the mechanism comprising:
 an arm having a top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion, each side portion having a hole aligned with a respective hole in the opposite side portion;  
 a pivot connector positioned between the first side portion and the second side portion of the arm, the pivot connector having a center aperture;  
 a pivot pin having a first end and a second end, the pivot pin connecting the pivot connector to the arm by the positioning of the pivot pin through the center aperture of the pivot connector and through the aligned holes on the first and second side portions;  
 a first axial washer applied about the first end of the pivot pin and positioned between the first side portion of the arm and the pivot connector;  
 a second axial washer applied about the second end of the pivot pin and positioned between the second side portion of the arm and the pivot connector;  
 at least one set screw threaded through one of the two side portions of the arm, the set screw contacting the first axial washer and providing control of a friction force between the pivot connector and the first axial washer.  
 
   
   
     2. The friction control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector is formed of aluminum, and wherein the first axial washer is formed of stainless steel. 
   
   
     3. The friction control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector is connected to a second pivot connector. 
   
   
     4. The friction control mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising a second arm, the second arm having a top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion having a pair of aligned holes;
 the second pivot connector positioned between the first side portion and the second side portion of the second arm, the second pivot connector having a center aperture;  
 a second pivot pin having a first end and a second end, the second pivot pin connecting the second pivot connector to the arm, the second pivot pin positioned through the center aperture of the second pivot connector and through the aligned holes on the first and second side portions of the second arm;  
 a third axial washer applied about the first end of the second pivot pin and positioned between the first side portion of the second arm and the second pivot connector;  
 a fourth axial washer applied about the second end of the second pivot pin and positioned between the second side portion of the second arm and the second pivot connector; at least one set screw threaded through the first side portion of the second arm, the set screw contacting the third axial washer to control friction force between the pivot connector and the third axial washer.  
 
   
   
     5. The friction control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector is moveably connected to an x-ray machine head. 
   
   
     6. The friction control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector has a cylindrical lower portion for connection to another device. 
   
   
     7. A friction control mechanism for an articulating arm, the mechanism comprising:
 an arm having a top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion having a pair of aligned holes;  
 a pivot connector positioned between the first side portion and the second side portion of the arm, the pivot connector having a center aperture;  
 a pivot pin having a first end and a second end, the pivot pin connecting the pivot connector to the arm, the pivot pin positioned through the center aperture of the pivot connector and through the aligned holes on the first and second side portions;  
 a first axial washer positioned around the first end of the pivot pin and between the first side portion of the arm and the pivot connector;  
 a second axial washer positioned around the second end of the pivot pin and between the second side portion of the arm and the pivot connector;  
 at least one set screw threaded through the first side portion of the arm, the set screw contacting the first axial washer to control friction force between the pivot connector and the first axial washer;  
 a second arm having a top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion having a pair of aligned holes;  
 a second pivot connector positioned between the first side portion and the second side portion of the second arm, the second pivot connector having a center aperture;  
 a second pivot pin having a first end and a second end, the second pivot pin connecting the second pivot connector to the second arm, the second pivot pin positioned through the center aperture of the second pivot connector and through the aligned holes on the first and second side portions of the second arm;  
 a third axial washer positioned around the first end of the second pivot pin and between the first side portion of the second arm and the second pivot connector;  
 a fourth axial washer positioned around the second end of the second pivot pin and between the second side portion of the second arm and the second pivot connector;  
 at least one set screw threaded through the first side portion of the second arm, the set screw contacting the third axial washer to control friction force between the pivot connector and the third axial washer; and,  
 the first pivot connector connected to the second pivot connector.  
 
   
   
     8. The friction control mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the pivot connector is formed of aluminum, and wherein the first axial washer and the third axial washer are formed of stainless steel. 
   
   
     9. A method for assembling a friction control mechanism for an articulating arm, comprising:
 placing a pivot connector between first and second sides of an arm;  
 placing an axial washer on each side of a center aperture in the pivot connector, within the sides of the arm;  
 connecting the pivot connector to the arm with a pivot pin through the center aperture on the pivot connector and through aligned holes on the first and second sides of the arm and through the washers;  
 threading at least one set screw through the first side of the arm until the set screw contacts the axial washer and causes the axial washer to contact the pivot connector.  
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of adjusting the set screw to control the degree of friction force between the pivot connector and the arm. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of connecting the pivot connector to an x-ray machine head. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of connecting the pivot connector to a second pivot connector.